Category Archives: Physiology

Physiology

New Research Illuminates Dominant Functions of Sleep and How They Change Through Our Lives | Medicine, Physiology – Sci-News.com

Before the age of 2 or 3 years, the human brain grows very rapidly and, during REM sleep, is busy building and strengthening synapses. After 2 or 3 years, however, sleeps primary purpose switches from brain building to brain maintenance and repair, a role it maintains for the rest of our lives, according to new research led by the University of California, Los Angeles.

Cao et al show that differences in sleep across phylogeny and during late ontogeny (after 2 or 3 years in humans) are primarily due to sleep functioning for repair or clearance, while changes in sleep during early ontogeny (before 2 or 3 years) primarily support neural reorganization and learning. Image credit: Sweet Briar College.

All animals naturally experience a certain amount of neurological damage during waking hours, and the resulting debris, including damaged genes and proteins within neurons, can build up and cause brain disease.

Sleep helps repair this damage and clear the debris essentially decluttering the brain and taking out the trash that can lead to serious illness.

Nearly all of this brain repair occurs during sleep, said study senior author Professor Van Savage, a researcher in the Departments of Computational Medicine and Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of California, Los Angeles, and Santa Fe Institute.

I was shocked how huge a change this is over a short period of time, and that this switch occurs when were so young. Its a transition that is analogous to when water freezes to ice.

Professor Savage and colleagues from the University of Texas at Austin, the University of Minnesota, Santa Fe Institute, Imperial College London, and the University of California, Los Angeles conducted the most comprehensive statistical analysis of sleep to date, using data from more than 60 sleep studies involving humans and other mammals.

The scientists examined data on sleep throughout development including total sleep time, REM sleep time, brain size and body size and built and tested a mathematical model to explain how sleep changes with brain and body size.

The data were remarkably consistent: all species experienced a dramatic decline in REM sleep when they reached the human developmental equivalent of about 2.5 years of age.

The fraction of time spent in REM sleep before and after that point was roughly the same, whether the researchers studied rabbits, rats, pigs or humans.

The authors found that REM sleep decreases with the growth in brain size throughout development.

While newborns spend about 50% of their sleep time in REM sleep, that falls to about 25% by the age of 10 and continues to decrease with age.

Adults older than 50 spend approximately 15% of their time asleep in REM.

The significant dropoff in REM sleep at about 2.5 years happens just as the major change in the function of sleep occurs, said study co-author Professor Gina Poe, a researcher in the Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology at the University of California, Los Angeles.

For most adults, a regular 7.5 hours of sleep a night is normal and time lying awake doesnt count, she said.

While children need more sleep, babies need much more, roughly twice as much as adults.

The large percentage of REM sleep in babies is in stark contrast to the amount of REM sleep observed in adult mammals across an enormous range of brain sizes and body sizes.

Adult humans have five REM cycles during a full night of sleep and can have a few dreams in each cycle.

A good nights sleep is excellent medicine. And its free, she added.

The results were published in the September 18, 2020 issue of the journal Science Advances.

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Junyu Cao et al. 2020. Unraveling why we sleep: Quantitative analysis reveals abrupt transition from neural reorganization to repair in early development. Science Advances 6 (38): eaba0398; doi: 10.1126/sciadv.aba0398

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New Research Illuminates Dominant Functions of Sleep and How They Change Through Our Lives | Medicine, Physiology - Sci-News.com

Physiology

AI-Based Digital Biomarker Could Assist in Early Intervention in High-Risk COVID-19 Patients – HospiMedica

Image: AI-Based Digital Biomarker Could Assist in Early Intervention in High-Risk COVID-19 Patients (Photo courtesy of Business Wire)

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH Bethesda, MA, USA) have awarded a contract to PhysIQ (Chicago, IL, USA) to develop an AI-based COVID-19 Decompensation Index (CDI) Digital Biomarker to address the rapid decline of high-risk COVID-19 patients. The new early warning system under development could allow providers to intervene sooner when a COVID-19 patient is clinically surveilled from home and begins to worsen. Rather than relying on point measurements, such as temperature and SpO2, that are known to be lagging or insensitive indicators of COVID-19 decompensation, continuous multi-parameter vital signs will be used to establish a targeted biomarker for COVID-19.

PhysIQ will develop and validate a CDI algorithm that builds off existing wearable biosensor-derived analytics generated by physIQs pinpointIQ end-to-end cloud platform for continuous monitoring of physiology. The data will be gathered through a clinical study of COVID-19 positive patients and build upon work already in-place for monitoring COVID-19 patients convalescing at home. For patients who participate in the program, physiological data will be collected before and after their admission to the hospital.

In the development phase of this project, physIQ and its clinical partner will monitor participants who are confirmed COVID-19 positive, whether recovering at home or following a discharge from the hospital. During the validation phase, physIQ will evaluate lead time to event statistics, decompensation severity assessments, and the ability for CDI to predict decompensation severity. The study is designed to capture data from a large, diverse population to investigate CDI performance differences among subgroups based on sex/gender and racial/ethnic characteristics. The project will not only enable the development and validation of the CDI, but also collect rich clinical data correlative with outcomes and symptomology related to COVID-19 infection. The index will build on physIQs prior FDA-cleared, AI-based multivariate change index (MCI) that has amassed more than 1.5 million hours of physiologic data, supporting development of this targeted digital biomarker for COVID-19.

Despite the technological advances and attention paid to COVID-19, the healthcare community is still monitoring patient vitals the very same way as we did in the 1800s, said Steven Steinhubl MD, Director of Digital Medicine at Scripps Translational Science Institute (STSI) and a physIQ advisor. With the advances in digital technology, AI and wearable biosensors, we can deliver personalized medicine remotely giving caregivers new tools to proactively address this pandemic. For that reason alone, this decision by the NIH has the potential to have a monumental impact on our healthcare system and how we manage COVID-19 patients.

Related Links:The National Institutes of Health (NIH)PhysIQ

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AI-Based Digital Biomarker Could Assist in Early Intervention in High-Risk COVID-19 Patients - HospiMedica

Physiology

NMSU researcher co-authors article on damaging effects of social isolation due to COVID-19 – Las Cruces Bulletin

By Adriana M. Chavez

While scientists and doctors are still working to understand the virus that causes COVID-19, the pandemic has also had many indirect effects on the health of people working remotely while in isolation.

A group of researchers from Australia and the U.S., including New Mexico State University, recently co-authored an article for the International Journal of Sports Science offering tips to increase physical activity, which will not only benefit physical health but mental health as well.

Joseph Berning, interim head of the Department of Kinesiology and Dance in NMSUs College of Education, co-authored COVID-19: Sedentary Isolation A Bad Combination. The article states that before the COVID-19 virus outbreak was declared a pandemic in March by the World Health Organization, people were already living mostly sedentary lifestyles.

While some people have bits and pieces of exercise equipment laying around at home, most do not and find themselves developing cabin fever staying at home, Berning said. The walls may seem to be closing in around you, which can be a source of stress in and of itself. Often times, unfortunately, when boredom or stress works its way into our lives, we tend to binge eat. Before you know it, youve gained five to 10 pounds of fat weight, the exact opposite of the definition of good health.

Berning and the articles co-authors have experience in higher education and research in applied and clinical exercise physiology for almost three decades each. Berning said he and his colleagues have adopted health and wellness as a lifestyle and exercise is a part of their normal daily routines.

When COVID-19 set in, nothing changed for each of us and our training routines, Berning said. In fact, because so many of us are working from home, we found we could actually increase workouts.

However, Berning and his colleagues have had to adapt to more time in front of their computers as online meetings have become the norm.

Online hasnt always made things easier and an argument can be made that online has actually created more meetings and therefore decreased our physical movement, Berning said. I admit, I find myself standing behind a computer from morning to night, and often seven days a week. I know the only way to combat this is to force yourself to get out and move.

According to the article, social isolation has been recognized to have a profound impact on health and longevity. Anxiety, depression, dementia and Alzheimers disease, among other mental health issues, have been shown to be related to social isolation. Major chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, obesity and weakened immune systems are also exacerbated by social isolation.

Our body was designed to work, be active and move, Berning said. We know relative to positive health, people who perform regular daily exercise live longer, experience less damaging health risks, experience fewer sick days per year, sleep better, perform better academically, decrease stress and maintain a higher quality of life.

Berning said that once people adopt physical exercise as a lifestyle, getting up to exercise isnt a forced activity, but a welcome one.

This research is so important because it reminds all of us that we need to keep moving, said Henrietta Pichon, interim dean of the College of Education. Hopefully, this can serve as a reminder to individuals that now is the best time to start or restart an exercise routine.

The article offers the following tips for physical activity: Move more, sit less. Accumulate at least 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity activity, such as walking briskly, dancing or general yard work; or 75 minutes a week of vigorous activity such as jogging, energetic dancing or heavy yard work. Perform muscle strengthening activities that involve all major muscle groups two to three days a week.

The bottom line: dont make excuses. Berning said. Get up and off the chair or couch several times a day if even for 10 minutes at a time. This isnt about the perfect exercise prescription. This is about being active and the mental and physical health benefits associated with human movement.

Phillip Post, interim associate dean for academics in the College of Education, said the work and recommendations made in the article by Berning and his colleagues are more important than ever.

Currently there is no medication that can do what exercise can do for the body and mind, Post said. We know that exercise enhances the immune system, cognitive functioning, physiological functioning and emotional well-being. Given COVID-19, we could all reap the benefits of moving more and regularly incorporating exercise into our daily routine. I hope our community reads and adopts Dr. Bernings physical activity recommendations.

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NMSU researcher co-authors article on damaging effects of social isolation due to COVID-19 - Las Cruces Bulletin

Physiology

Regulatory T cells could lead to new immunotherapies aimed at treating multiple sclerosis – Newswise

Newswise Irvine, CA September 21, 2020 In a new University of California, Irvine-led study, researchers have discovered how regulatory T cells (Treg) are instrumental in limiting the damage caused to the spinal cord in diseases like multiple sclerosis (MS).

Published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the results of the study help explain how Treg cells prevent autoimmunity and dampen immune responses, specifically the negative effects of type 17 helper T cells (Th17) which are known to drive the progression of several autoimmune diseases.

This new study, which builds on recent research that identified pathogenic Th17 cells and their role in the progression of several autoimmune diseases, showed how the inhibition of Th17 cells by Treg cells enabled partial recovery from paralysis. This finding demonstrates how autoimmune diseases may be effectively targeted using Treg-based cellular therapies.

We discovered a unique repetitive scanning motility by which Treg cells (the good guys) dampen calcium signaling in pathogenic Th17 cells (the bad guys), and help to resolve neuroinflammation and limit reactivation of Th17 cells in the spinal cord, explained Shivashankar Othy, PhD, lead author of the study with Amit Jairaman, PhD, both project scientists in the Cahalan Lab at UCI.

Senior author, Michael D. Cahalan, PhD, distinguished professor and chair of the Department of Physiology & Biophysics at the UCI School of Medicine, added, Building on our years of expertise in immunoimaging and calcium signaling, this study highlights Th17 and Treg cell interactions, their motility characteristics, and intracellular signaling, thus providing new insights into the pathophysiology of MS. Our results illustrate how a regulatory T cell-based immunotherapy may be instrumental in limiting demyelination in MS.

This research was supported in part by the National Institutes of Health.

About the UCI School of Medicine

Each year, the UCI School of Medicine educates more than 400 medical students, and nearly 150 doctoral and masters students. More than 700 residents and fellows are trained at UCI Medical Center and affiliated institutions. The School of Medicine offers an MD; a dual MD/PhD medical scientist training program; and PhDs and masters degrees in anatomy and neurobiology, biomedical sciences, genetic counseling, epidemiology, environmental health sciences, pathology, pharmacology, physiology and biophysics, and translational sciences. Medical students also may pursue an MD/MBA, an MD/masters in public health, or an MD/masters degree through one of three mission-based programs: the Health Education to Advance Leaders in Integrative Medicine (HEAL-IM), the Leadership Education to Advance Diversity-African, Black and Caribbean (LEAD-ABC), and the Program in Medical Education for the Latino Community (PRIME-LC). The UCI School of Medicine is accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Accreditation and ranks among the top 50 nationwide for research. For more information, visit som.uci.edu.

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Regulatory T cells could lead to new immunotherapies aimed at treating multiple sclerosis - Newswise

Physiology

Physiq begins development of AI-based COVID-19 early warning system – BioWorld Online

The digital medicine company Physiq Inc. has received a contract from the NIH to develop an artificial intelligence (AI)-based index that can provide an early warning that a patient with COVID-19 is in decline and needs medical treatment.

The index, called the COVID-19 Decompensation Index (CDI) Digital Biomarker, is a personalized and multivariate AI-based algorithm that will run on Physiqs existing Accelerateiq computing platform, analyzing physiological data from FDA-cleared wearable devices to create a personalized baseline for patients who have tested positive for COVID-19. The technology then indicates changes in vital signs and results of the personalized baseline, producing the index that is used by medical personnel.

Chicago-based Physiq was one of seven companies and academic institutions to be awarded an NIH contract to develop digital health solutions to help address the COVID-19 pandemic.

The contracts were awarded in two phases, with an initial phase to demonstrate feasibility and a second phase for development. If all seven projects advance to the second phase, the total value of the contracts would be $22.8 million. Physiqs portion of the contract is worth $6.6 million. All companies have one year to complete the entire project.

The thing thats unique about our approach is we learn the patients unique physiology. This is not a population-based test, Gary Conkright, Physiqs CEO, told BioWorld. Instead, an N equals one approach to learning physiology allows us to see very subtle changes over time.

Building on existing index

Conkright said he anticipates that the company will be successful in developing the CDI because it builds on the companys existing FDA-cleared algorithm, the multivariate change index (MCI), which helps track health changes in patients with chronic disease. That technology has accumulated 1.5 million hours of physiologic data that is expected to assist in the development of the COVID-19 specific system.

This is going to work, were just trying to make it more specific and theres value in doing that, he said.

To develop and validate the CDI, Physiq has partnered with the University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System (UI Health) to monitor COVID-19 positive patients who are recovering at home.

During the development phase, COVID-19 positive patients who are sent home will receive a Physiq monitoring kit, which includes a smartphone with the Physiq app installed and wearable devices. The physiological information collected will be sent via cloud technology to advanced practice nurses from UI Health who can identify if a patients condition is deteriorating. Those nurses will contact patients who appear to be in decline and advise them about whether to go to the hospital for treatment.

The idea, Conkright said, is to get patients treatment before their condition becomes critical.

One of the horrible things about COVID is that it so subtly decreases physiological function that sometimes patients dont detect its getting worse until they are really in trouble, he said. By that time, it might be too late to prevent an intubation or worse.

During the validation phase for the technology, the company will evaluate lead time to event statistics, decompensation severity assessments and the ability of the CDI technology to predict decompensation severity.

During the development phase, the company plans to collect 400 patient datasets. They will collect an additional 1,200 patient datasets during the validation phase, Conkright said.

The goal there is to show how early and what kind of predictive power our index has, Conkright said.

The study, which is pending approved by the UI Health Institutional Review Board, is being designed to capture data from a large and diverse population to assess CDIs performance differences in subgroups, based on gender and racial/ethnic characteristics. Conkright said one of the reasons that UI Health was such an attractive partner for this project is that their patient population is racially diverse, with a large number of Black and Latinx patients.

Physiq is not new to the COVID-19 research space. The company has a separate study about to launch with UI Health to examine whether antihypertensive medications have a worsening effect on COVID-19 symptoms, specifically in Black and Latinx patients. Additionally, the company is working with the Department of Defense to collect data on military personnel with COVID-19.

Other COVID-19 digital tools

Along with Physiq, six other organizations received contracts from the NIH to test their COVID-19 digital health solutions.

Evidation Health Inc., based in San Mateo, Calif., is investigating a health measurement platform to analyze self-reported and wearable device data to both detect COVID-19 and differentiate it from influenza.

IBM, in Armonk, New York, is testing an integrated solution to support contact tracing and verifiable health status reporting.

Icrypt Inc., based in Santa Clara, Calif., is developing a smartphone-based platform to provide proof of testing, serologic, and vaccination status.

Shee Atik Enterprises LLC, based in Sitka, Alaska, is developing a smartphone-based platform aimed at supporting individuals in low-resource settings with a Bluetooth-enabled thermometer and pulse oximeter.

The University of California, San Francisco is investigating a GPS-based retroactive contact-tracing tool for COVID-19.

Vibrent Health, based in Fairfax, Va., is working on mobile applications, data integrations, and validated machine learning algorithms to identify COVID-19 and differentiate it from influenza, and to perform contact tracing.

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Physiq begins development of AI-based COVID-19 early warning system - BioWorld Online

Physiology

AgEye Technologies announces formation of Scientific Advisory Board – hortidaily.com

AgEye Technologies, provider of AI-powered cameras, sensors and predictive analytics for indoor farming, announced the formation of a Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) to advance its "plant scientist in a box" technology.

"The creation of a SAB is an important step in furthering our research in the real-world application of deep learning artificial intelligence to optimize growth factors of specialty crops," said Nick Genty, CEO, AgEye Technologies. "The external scientific perspective of the Board will greatly aid in the continued development and validation of the AgEye platform."

The SAB will work closely with the AgEye leadership team as the company continues the global commercialization of its technology into indoor farms that grow high-value crops, including cannabis, leafy greens, micro-herbs, strawberries and tomatoes.

The company also announced that Dr. Ricardo Hernndez, Ph.D., has joined as an advisor on the SAB. Dr. Hernndez is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Horticultural Sciences at North Carolina State University and a highly recognized expert within controlled environment horticulture. He brings deep knowledge of plant eco-physiology and how it relates to maximizing plant growth rate, development, morphology, physiology and ultimately improvement of crop yield, phytochemical content, and flavor.

"The use of controlled environments to optimize plant growth provides the unique opportunity to deliver the conditions that the crop requires to maximize yield. However, the timing (when?) to deliver those conditions depends on the plant requirements through the growth stage," said Dr. Hernndez. "Monitoring and translating real-time plant feedback continues to be a challenge. Technologies such as AgEye can significantly help to alleviate this pressing issue."

For more information:AgEye Technologieswww.AgEyeTech.com

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AgEye Technologies announces formation of Scientific Advisory Board - hortidaily.com

Physiology

NMSU researcher co-authors article on damaging effects of social isolation due to COVID-19 – New Mexico State University NewsCenter

Date: 09/21/2020Writer: Adriana M. Chavez, 575-646-1957, adchavez@nmsu.edu Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Google+ Pinterest

While scientists and doctors are still working to understand the virus that causes COVID-19, the pandemic has also had many indirect effects on the health of people working remotely while in isolation.

A group of researchers from Australia and the U.S., including New Mexico State University, recently co-authored an article for the International Journal of Sports Science offering tips to increase physical activity, which will not only benefit physical health but mental health as well.

Joseph Berning, interim head of the Department of Kinesiology and Dance in NMSUs College of Education, co-authored COVID-19: Sedentary Isolation A Bad Combination. The article states that before the COVID-19 virus outbreak was declared a pandemic in March by the World Health Organization, people were already living mostly sedentary lifestyles.

While some people have bits and pieces of exercise equipment laying around at home, most do not and find themselves developing cabin fever staying at home, Berning said. The walls may seem to be closing in around you, which can be a source of stress in and of itself. Often times, unfortunately, when boredom or stress works its way into our lives, we tend to binge eat. Before you know it, youve gained five to 10 pounds of fat weight, the exact opposite of the definition of good health.

Berning and the articles co-authors have experience in higher education and research in applied and clinical exercise physiology for almost three decades each. Berning said he and his colleagues have adopted health and wellness as a lifestyle and exercise is a part of their normal daily routines.

When COVID-19 set in, nothing changed for each of us and our training routines, Berning said. In fact, because so many of us are working from home, we found we could actually increase workouts.

However, Berning and his colleagues have had to adapt to more time in front of their computers as online meetings have become the norm.

Online hasnt always made things easier and an argument can be made that online has actually created more meetings and therefore decreased our physical movement, Berning said. I admit, I find myself standing behind a computer from morning to night, and often seven days a week. I know the only way to combat this is to force yourself to get out and move.

According to the article, social isolation has been recognized to have a profound impact on health and longevity. Anxiety, depression, dementia and Alzheimers disease, among other mental health issues, have been shown to be related to social isolation. Major chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, obesity and weakened immune systems are also exacerbated by social isolation.

Our body was designed to work, be active and move, Berning said. We know relative to positive health, people who perform regular daily exercise live longer, experience less damaging health risks, experience fewer sick days per year, sleep better, perform better academically, decrease stress and maintain a higher quality of life.

Berning said that once people adopt physical exercise as a lifestyle, getting up to exercise isnt a forced activity, but a welcome one.

This research is so important because it reminds all of us that we need to keep moving, said Henrietta Pichon, interim dean of the College of Education. Hopefully, this can serve as a reminder to individuals that now is the best time to start or restart an exercise routine.

The article offers the following tips for physical activity: Move more, sit less. Accumulate at least 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity activity, such as walking briskly, dancing or general yard work; or 75 minutes a week of vigorous activity such as jogging, energetic dancing or heavy yard work. Perform muscle strengthening activities that involve all major muscle groups two to three days a week.

The bottom line: dont make excuses. Berning said. Get up and off the chair or couch several times a day if even for 10 minutes at a time. This isnt about the perfect exercise prescription. This is about being active and the mental and physical health benefits associated with human movement.

Phillip Post, interim associate dean for academics in the College of Education, said the work and recommendations made in the article by Berning and his colleagues are more important than ever.

Currently there is no medication that can do what exercise can do for the body and mind, Post said. We know that exercise enhances the immune system, cognitive functioning, physiological functioning and emotional well-being. Given COVID-19, we could all reap the benefits of moving more and regularly incorporating exercise into our daily routine. I hope our community reads and adopts Dr. Bernings physical activity recommendations.

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NMSU researcher co-authors article on damaging effects of social isolation due to COVID-19 - New Mexico State University NewsCenter

Physiology

The Nation’s Leading Chiropractor Announces First Cutting-Edge Facility in Pennsylvania – The Wellsboro Gazette

ATLANTA, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --Making INC 5000's fastest-growing companies isn't all that the award-winning doctors at Corrective Chiropractic are doing. With the recent announcement of yet another new facility, this time in Pennsylvania, the state-of-the-art King of Prussia office will be the first of its kind. Local residents will be able to get direct access to the most all-natural chiropractic treatments, including specialty care for weekend warriors, children, and pregnant women.

The King of Prussia location will be located at 649 S. Gulph Rd. and will offer a comprehensive suite of chiropractic services from digital posture assessments, thermal scans, and complimentary consultations for new patients. Corrective Chiropractic has become known for their customer service and for the extremely friendly nature of their doctors and medical staff. Dr. Skyler McCormick, the lead chiropractor at the King of Prussia office, is no exception.

Dr. Skyler McCormick

Dr. Skyler brings a host of enthusiasm, passion for helping others, and an unrivaled level of expertise to the King of Prussia facility. He received his doctor of chiropractic degree from Life University in Atlanta, GA, where he graduated magna cum laude. He holds a Bachelor's of Science Health and Exercise Physiology from Ursinus College. Dr. Skyler has dedicated countless hours studying the structural correction of the human spine and has extensive post-doctoral training in chiropractic biophysics, sports chiropractic, specific extremity adjusting protocols as well as injury and regeneration of skeletal muscle.

As a former collegiate athlete, it is Dr. Skyler's goal to help restore the health and wellness of all of his patients, from athletes, to young children, to those who may be suffering with chronic neck and back pain.

For more information about the new King of Prussia, PA location or to schedule an appointment, visit Corrective Chiropractic online here.

Corrective Chiropractic - The Chiropractic Practice With A Community Feel

Created with the mission to lead, empower, and inspire the Atlanta community to lead a proactive life through the principles of chiropractic, Corrective Chiropractic takes a holistic approach to healthcare. Specializing in providing expert chiropractic care to a host of patients from newborns, to athletes, to expectant moms and seniors, the award-winning doctors at Corrective Chiropractic are known for their thorough and friendly approach.

Photos:https://www.prlog.org/12839243

Press release distributed by PRLog

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The Nation's Leading Chiropractor Announces First Cutting-Edge Facility in Pennsylvania - The Wellsboro Gazette

Physiology

Ohio University shares academic programs returning, numbers of students to live in dorms for phase 2 – Athens NEWS

Ohio University recently released a comprehensive list of all undergraduate and graduate programs and courses that were authorized for the second phase of its reopening plan.

All freshmen and sophomores enrolled in any of the dozens of courses included will be permitted to return to campus and live in the dorms, though many are upper-level classes that underclassmen are often ineligible to take. There are, however, a handful of lower-level classes, like introductory courses in the College of Business, and entire degree programs, namely within The College of Fine Arts, that were authorized for in-person instruction.

Unlike in phase 1, there is no definitive option for phase 2 students to take all of their classes online, but many courses included have remote options. A large portion of phase 2 courses will be delivered in a hybrid format, meaning students will attend in-person classes some days and learn online during others. Many classes included can be completed entirely remotely and will not require any in-person attendance.

All graduate students were authorized to return to campus in phase 2. Their access to on-campus facilities will vary based on their area of study. All students in The Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine were invited to campus in phase 1 for hybrid learning, though some may have the option to remain fully online in phase 2. (Scroll down to view a complete list of all courses included in both phase 1 and 2.)

Housing and Residence Life is anticipating about 1,500 students to be living in on-campus residence halls by Sept. 28, the first day of phase 2, a university spokesperson said. The total number of students expected to live in residence halls is subject to change as many continue to decide whether they plan to return at the end of the month or not.

As of Monday, there are just over 300 students living in residence halls, according to OUs COVID-19 dashboard, with 105 more expected to move in this week.

Its not clear exactly how many students currently living either in dorms or off-campus have tested positive for COVID-19, largely because OUs dashboard to track cases is both disjointed and inaccurate.

According to the universitys dashboard as of last Friday, at least 162 Athens campus students have reported theyve received tests to the OU COVID-19 hotline, which is managed by OhioHealth in partnership with the university; while at least 53 have reported positive test results and at least 38 have pending tests.

At least 12 Athens campus staff members have reported to the hotline that theyve been tested, but none have come back positive and one remains pending.

Since Aug. 24, at least one staffer, one faculty member and at least 31 students at the Athens campus have reported positive test results through voluntarily submitted COVID-19 incident report forms, which the university verifies by contacting any individuals named and asking them to provide official documentation.

This data may not be a comprehensive reflection of all positive cases within our Ohio University community, OU Spokesperson Jim Sabin previously said in a statement about the universitys dashboard.

While the vast majority of confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases in the county are among young people ages 20-29, its unclear exactly how many of those are OU students.

Winfried Just, an OU professor who studies the transmission of infectious diseases, and a colleague were tasked in August by an OU official with modeling how many virus cases are likely to arise once students returned to campus.

He said last week that the model has generally been accurate in predicting the numbers of reported student cases in Athens.

Once phase 2 arrives, Just said he believes the numbers of reported cases among students should stay below the point where quarantine space and testing could become even more scarce.

[Phase 2] may just work. Were taking a risk, I mean, there is no doubt about it, he said on Friday.

The worst case scenario, Just said, would involve Athens County becoming designated by the state as a purple level 4 county, the most severe public health advisory within its COVID-19 alert system, with students being sent home a few weeks before the already-adjusted end date for on-campus activities.

For a period in July when virus cases surged, Athens was the only county in the state nearing a level 4 designation. To date, no counties in the sate have turned purple. As of Monday, virus cases in Athens County are, on average, soaring to heights not seen since the July surge. And there is a clear correlation between the rise in cases and the start of phase 1.

Below are lists provided by the Office of the University Registrar of all the undergraduate and graduate courses authorized for both phase 1 and phase 2:

College of Arts and Sciences

Human Anatomy Lab, Cell & Microbiology Techniques, Principles of Physiology Lab, Human Physiology Laboratory, Field Ecology, Teaching Vertebrate Anatomy, Aquatic Biology, Physiology of Exercise Lab, Ichthyology, Ornithology, Organic Chemistry Laboratory I, Physical Chemistry I Lab, Advanced Inorganic Laboratory, Advanced Organic Synthesis, Forensic Chemistry I Lab, Sustainable Agriculture, Plant Breeding, Restoration Ecology, Intermediate Laboratory Electrons and Protons (Physics), Social Welfare Overview and Trends (Social Work), and Field Practicum I (Social Work).

Introduction to the College of Business, Introduction to Business, Intro to Business Communications, and Strategic Business Communications, Intro to Management & Organization, Business Information Systems, and Intro to Marketing Management.

Studio Art BFA Exhibit, Intro to Modern Dance, Intro to Dance Ballet, Intro to Dance Jazz I, Modern Dance Technique I, Ballet Technique I, Beginning Dance Composition I, Beginning Dance Composition I, Dance Production I, Modern Dance Technique III, Ballet Technique III, Intermediate Dance Composition I, Jazz Dance Technique II, Lighting for Dance, Modern Dance Technique V, Ballet Technique V, Advanced Dance Composition I, Dance Pedagogy, Dance Production II, Modern Dance Technique VII, Ballet Technique VII, Dance Senior Capstone, Dance Internship, Practicum in Teaching Dance, Technical Toolbox I (Film), Wind Symphony, Symphonic Band, Symphony Orchestra Symphony Orchestra, University Singers, Choral Union, Play Analysis and Playwriting, Acting I, Acting Fundamentals II, Introduction to Playwriting, Acting III, Practicum in Production Design, Playwriting Revision Technique, Stage Management 1, Stage Management Seminar, Acting Studio I, and Advanced Playwriting.

Students enrolled in the following degree programs within the College of Fine Arts are included in phase 2 because they require in-person instruction for accreditation:

Dance, Dance Performance and Choreography, Playwriting, Production Design, Stage Management, Theater Performance, Theater Performance Musical, Film (first-year and second-year students only), Composition, Instrumental Performance, Music Education, Choral and Instrumental emphases, Music Therapy, Piano Performance, Piano Performance and Pedagogy, and Voice.

College of Health Sciences and Professions

Nursing (second-year and fourth-year students; third-year students were included in phase 1 and continue in phase 2; in-person learning is required for accreditation for many nursing students), Health Assessment (Nursing), Nursing Care of Adults I, Nursing Care Child & Families, Physiology of Exercise Lab, Cardiovascular Assessments, Principles of Food Science, Intro Food Production, and Experimental Foods.

Its not clear specifically which tutorial programs will require in-person learning, but the classes are required to be face-to-face for accreditation.

Patton College of Education

No undergraduate courses within the Patton College of Education have been authorized for phase 2.

Russ College of Engineering and Technology

Introduction to Aviation, Private Pilot Ground, Aviation Laws and Regulations, Instrument Pilot Ground, Commercial Pilot Ground, Aircraft Systems & Powerplants, Flight Instructor Ground, Adv Aircraft and Flight Crew Ops, Transition to AVN Industry, Elements of Land Surveying 1, Experimental Methods in Civil Engineering, Chemical Engineering Unit Operations Lab I, Chemical Process Control, Chmical Engineering Process Design I, Electrical Engineering Instrumentation Laboratory, Hydraulics & Pneumatics, Production Tooling, Automation, Robotics & Control, Operations Management Capstone II, Mechatronics I, Mechanical Engineering Capstone Design I, and Experimental Design Lab.

Scripps College of Communication

Understanding Virtual Reality, Virtual Reality Lab, Virtual Reality Production, VR Production Lab, Communications Foundations (Information and Telecommunications Systems), Business Reporting, Music Production and Technology I, Music Production & Technology II, Video & Audio Field Production, Production for the Community, Sound for Moving Image, Music Production: Mixing & Delivery, Music Production/Recording Industry Capstone, Special Topics in Media Arts and Studies, Commercial Photography I, Commercial Photogaphy II, Commercial Photography IV, and Photojournalism Capstone.

Intro to U.S. Air Force, History of Air Power, Mgt Concepts and Practices I, Fundamental Military Leadership Concepts, Military Leadership Laboratory, Tactics and Leadership, Small Unit Leadership & Operations I, Leadership, and Management & Ethics.

Center for International Studies

College of Arts and Sciences

Principles of Physiology Lab, Advanced Organic Synthesis, Restoration Ecology, Special Topics in Spanish, Foundation Field I (Social Work), and Advanced Field Practicum I (Social Work).

Advanced Managerial Accounting, Advanced Auditing, Forensics/Fraud Investigation, Law of Sports, Accounting for Executives, Descriptive Analytics, Organizational Behavior and Human Resources Management, Strategic Marketing, Predictive Analytics, Ethics in Leadership, Sport Marketing, and Revenue Generation.

Filmmaking I, Sound Techniques, Piano, 1 Wind Symphony, Symphonic Band, Symphony Orchestra, University Singers, Practicum in Design and Tech (Theater), Writing for Production I, Practicum Design Tech, Writing for Production III, Voice and Movement, Practicum in Design/Tech, and Writing for Production V.

Tools for Translational Research (Translational Biomedical Sciences).

Patton College of Education

Skill Acquisition (Coaching Education), Issues in Athletic Coaching, and Foundations of Coaching I.

Scripps College of Communication

Advanced Photo Reportage.

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Ohio University shares academic programs returning, numbers of students to live in dorms for phase 2 - Athens NEWS

Physiology

New UCLA Research Reveals Why Sleeping is So Important – NBC Southern California

A dramatic change in the purpose of sleep occurs when children are about 2 1/2 years old -- a time when sleep's primary purpose changes from brain-building to brain maintenance and repair, according to a study released Friday by researchers at UCLA.

Don't wake babies up during REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. Important work is being done in their brains as they sleep," said Gina Poe, the senior study author and a UCLA professor of integrative biology and physiology who has conducted sleep research for more than three decades.

Newborns spend about 50% of their sleep time in REM sleep, with that number falling to about 25% by the age of 10 and continuing to decrease with age. Adults who are older than 50 spend about 15% of their time asleep in REM, according to researchers.

Local news from across Southern California

The study, published in the journal Science Advances, noted that the sharp transition in sleep function is ``remarkable given that this shift likely signals a profound shift in the function of sleep and the behavior of sleep processes.

Researchers, who used data from more than 60 sleep studies involving humans and other mammals, found that all species experienced a dramatic decline in REM sleep when they reached the human developmental equivalent of about 2 1/2 years of age.

The transition at about age 2 1/2 corresponds to changes in brain development, according to researchers, who say that sleep then helps repair a certain amount of neurological damage suffered during waking hours, and essentially declutter the brain.

Sleep is as important as food, Poe said. And it's miraculous how well sleep matches the needs of our nervous system. From jellyfish to birds to whales, everyone sleeps. While we sleep, our brains are not resting.

Poe noted that a chronic lack of sleep likely contributes to long-term health problems such as dementia and other cognitive disorders, and urged people to go to bed when they start to feel tired.

Nearly all of the brain repair occurs during sleep, according to the study's senior author, Van Savage, a UCLA professor of ecology and evolutionary biology and of computational medicine.

I was shocked how huge a change this is over a short period of time, and that this switch occurs when we're so young, Savage said. It's a transition that is analogous to when water freezes to ice.

The study was co-authored by Junyu Cao, who conducted research in Savage's laboratory and is now an assistant professor at the University of Texas at Austin; Alexander Herman, an assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities; and Geoffrey West, a physicist who is the Shannan Distinguished Professor at the Santa Fe Institute.

The National Science Foundation and the Eugene and Clare Thaw Charitable Trust helped to fund the study.

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New UCLA Research Reveals Why Sleeping is So Important - NBC Southern California